People light sparklers as they celebrate the New Year at the Red Square.Image: Denis Tyrin/Associated Press At the vast skating rink in Moscow’s Gorky Park, Russians say they’re looking forward to a 2015 that will be as smooth as the ice, despite the country’s economic and political difficulties. The ruble has sunk, tensions with the […]

People light sparklers as they celebrate the New Year at the Red Square.

Image: Denis Tyrin/Associated Press

At the vast skating rink in Moscow’s Gorky Park, Russians say they’re looking forward to a 2015 that will be as smooth as the ice, despite the country’s economic and political difficulties.

The ruble has sunk, tensions with the West are up, but the troubles seem to have produced a surge in national pride.

“Russians are a nation of optimists,” said Ivan Kasyanov, a skater in his 20s.

“The worse things get, the better we develop.”

Kasyanov brushed off concerns about the stunning decline of the ruble — which lost about half of its value against Western currencies in 2014 — and the Western sanctions imposed over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. He doubts these factors would deal a serious blow to an economy that in recent years has soared on oil and gas income.

“We will put more (effort) on our industrial development,” he said, echoing the spin promulgated on state-controlled TV.

People photograph fireworks as they celebrate the New Year in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015.

Image: Denis Tyrin/Associated Press

A recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll showed that Russians who rely on state TV for their news think significantly more highly of President Vladimir Putin than those who tap other news sources. Still, the poll showed that in both sectors the support for Putin is resoundingly strong — 84 percent and 73 percent respectively.

Gorky Park itself is a place to encourage optimism. After becoming rundown following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the park in recent years has undergone an impressive restoration, helped along by the money and influence of Roman Abramovich, one of Russia’s richest and most politically compliant men. The skating rink is its stunning centerpiece, a happy labyrinth of ice-coated lanes festooned with colored lights that stretches over 18,000 square meters (about 4 1/2 acres).

Students Elizaveta Kozlova, left, and Anastasia Khripunova speak to the Associated Press at the Gorky Park skating rink in Moscow, Russia.

Image: Jim Heintz/Associated Press

But the view is different in other quarters of the Russian capital, even in the ostentatious corridors of the GUM department store, where only the well-heeled can afford to shop.

“Here, everything changes so often. So I would like stability,” shopper Olga Mozalyova said.

Concern is also strong where stock traders anxiously monitor their screens. The ruble’s fall, the plunge in world oil prices and the sanctions’ denial of access to Western credit have all dealt a blow to the Russian economy.

“Maybe if Russia doesn’t give cause for the strengthening of sanctions, we can get a positive result in that case,” said Sergei Romanchuk at Metallinvestbank.

The chances of that are not promising.

In his televised New Year’s Eve message to the nation, Putin hailed the annexation of Crimea as a historic achievement and the rightful return of the peninsula’s people to the bosom of Russia. Although the fighting between pro-Russian separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine has eased since September, there has been little progress on ensuring a stable cease-fire, much less withdrawing heavy weapons or resolving the complicated and inflammatory question of the region’s political status.

In the offices of Russia’s opposition groups, who endure constant pressure from authorities and struggle to find public support, the view of 2015 is ominous.

“The end is near, the country is at the brink of going down,” said Mikhail Kasyanov, who was Putin’s first prime minister but is now firm opponent. “That’s why I’m saying that people will take to the streets demanding a change of the situation … 2015 is a very important year, I would say it may be a historic year.”

The opposition, usually all but invisible to ordinary Russians, made a brief show of protest two days before New Year’s. A couple thousand demonstrators defied police and gathered near the Kremlin to protest the conviction of opposition stalwart Alexei Navalny and his brother on fraud charges. But the demonstration was far smaller than the anti-Putin protests that broke out two winters ago.

New Year’s Day begins an extended holiday for most Russians that stretches through Orthodox Christmas until Jan. 12. The winter break is so beloved by most Russians that engaging in any serious actions like protests seems almost sacrilegious. A survey this month by the state pollster VTsIOM showed that Russians plan to spend about 20 percent more on holiday feasts and presents than they did two years ago.

At Gorky Park, the skaters were clearly determined to be festive. Student Anastasia Khripunova described herself as “optimistic, despite everything. Because if one doesn’t laugh, he can become crazy.”

Putin’s New Year message stayed away from mentioning problems. But a few days earlier he hinted at how dire 2015 might be, saying government ministers must stay on the job through the holiday season.

“For the government, for your agencies, we cannot afford this long holiday, at least this year — you know what I mean,” Putin said.

One of the greatest action scenes in film history gets its videogame due. Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=LY55pS7zaDo&t=126. Read more: http://buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/someone-recreated-the-truck-chase-scene-from-t2-judgement-da

I shot this video on a Lifelock Review to make sure you understand what Lifelock does and doesn't do for you. We have all heard about IDENTITY THEFT (IDT) and probably even companies such as LifeLock, but do you really understand how this crime could severely damage your life? When it comes to identity theft […]

I shot this video on a Lifelock Review to make sure you understand what Lifelock does and doesn't do for you. We have all heard about IDENTITY THEFT (IDT) and probably even companies such as LifeLock, but do you really understand how this crime could severely damage your life? When it comes to identity theft to protect yourself and your family, you should not ignore the problem and stick your head in the sand.

Identity Theft is the #1 Crime in America and it's only getting Worse Every Day!

Case in Point No. 1: Imagine yourself sitting here on the internet and you decide to do some of online banking. All of a sudden you notice that your bank account was just depleted by $2,000. Thinking it was just an error while not knowing how to resolve it; you wait a little bit and check it again. Now your account has a balance of $ZERO$ dollars. Do you think it can't happen to you?

ShareTweet Chip and Joanna Gaines have had a tough go-around with haters in the past six months. First they faced the wrath of a Buzzfeed writer who blatantly questioned their character on the premise that they attend a church whose pastor has preached against gay marriage. Of course, theyre always in the news for something […]

Chip and Joanna Gaines have had a tough go-around with haters in the past six months. First they faced the wrath of a Buzzfeed writer who blatantly questioned their character on the premise that they attend a church whose pastor has preached against gay marriage.

Now theyre facing a whole new kind of drama.

Last week, Chips former friends, business partners and cofounders of the Magnolia Real Estate Company, filed a $1 million lawsuit against the Fixer Upperstar.

John L. Lewis and Richard L. Clark have allegedly accused Chip of buying them out of their shares of the company for $2,500 each in May of 2013just days before the HGTV hit series premiered.

The partners claim that Chip didnt tell them that the HGTV renovation show would be nationally televised, and the show prominently featured the Magnolia brand name before the sale.

Chip took to Twitter on Friday with none other than a Bible verse as reports of the suit circulated the media:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

He followed up with a different tweet, believed to be a direct statement about his so-called friends.

Fyi: Ive had the same cell # 15 years.. same email for 20 yrs, the Fixer Upperstar, 42, wrote. No one called or emailed? 4 years later friends reach out via lawsuit.. humm.

The three friends founded the company in 2007 with just one real estate agent. According to the lawsuit, Magnolia currently has 93 agents in several offices across Texas.

Based on the amount of shade coming from Chips tweet, I think its safe to assume the trio hasnt been close in some time.

Chip and Joannas attorney told Fox News, We are confident that these claims will be found to be meritless, and it is disappointing to see people try to take advantage of the hard work and success of Chip and Joanna Gaines.

The hackers who claim to have stolen Mitt Romney’s tax returns — and are holding them to ransom for $1 million in bitcoins — just became the targets of a federal investigation. As we mentioned earlier, the unidentified team of hackers described the theft on Pastebin. That’s the same data-dump website where a treasure trove […]

The hackers who claim to have stolen Mitt Romney’s tax returns — and are holding them to ransom for $1 million in bitcoins — just became the targets of a federal investigation.

As we mentioned earlier, the unidentified team of hackers described the theft on Pastebin. That’s the same data-dump website where a treasure trove of one million Apple device IDs, allegedly taken from an FBI laptop, was found. The FBI later denied they’d been hacked.

The Romney hackers, by contrast, offered no proof — just a description of an elaborate burglary inside PriceWaterhouseCooper’s Tennessee office on Aug. 25, where they supposedly retrieved the tax returns that the GOP candidate has declined to release.

Romney’s team was given until Sept. 28 to transfer $1 million in bitcoins (an untraceable online currency popular in the criminal underworld). Otherwise, the hackers said, the tax returns would either go to the highest bidder or be released on Pastebin for all to read.

Ironically, one of the world’s largest bitcoin exchanges — Bitfloor — halted trading Wednesday after being hit by hackers itself.

Whether or not the hackers are blowing smoke, attempted blackmail of a presidential candidate is a pretty serious offense. So the Secret Service is investigating, a spokesperson told CNET.

The agency, formerly a department of the U.S. Treasury (and now part of Homeland Security), investigates financial crimes alongside its more well-known role of protecting Presidents and candidates. So it couldn’t be better placed to tackle this one.

Given that the tax return theft was described in such precise detail, it should be the work of a moment for agents to find out if it actually happened. Tracking down the hackers in question may take a little longer.

Will this help take the pressure off Romney, who has been under fire for not releasing as many tax returns as previous presidential candidates? Give us your take in the comments.

Stalking, chasing, and taking down prey like high-leaping springbok or giant elk is a hard day’s work. But over the course of thousands of years, cheetahs and pumas have polished their hunting strategies down to a precise science, according to two studies published in Science this week. They’re much less energetically constrained by resources and […]

Stalking, chasing, and taking down prey like high-leaping springbok or giant elk is a hard day’s work. But over the course of thousands of years, cheetahs and pumas have polished their hunting strategies down to a precise science, according to twostudies published in Science this week. They’re much less energetically constrained by resources and competition than we thought.

Carnivores must balance the energy spent seeking and subduing prey with what they get back when they finally kill something. It’s essential that they carefully calculate calorie costs and gains. Researchers used to think prey loss to theft and the extra energy expenditure from having to trek across rugged terrain might be weakening the wild cats, but perhaps not.

To study the energetics of mid-size predators in the wild, David Scantlebury from Queen’s University Belfast and colleagues used radio collars to track 19 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in southern Africa for two weeks. They recorded how much time the cats spent lying down, sitting, walking, and chasing. They also injected heavy (isotope-laden) water into the cats, so by analyzing urine and feces, they could determine how much water the cats lose each day as well as track energy expenditure.

They found that cheetahs were in motion for about 12 percent of the day, and there’s a direct correlation between the distance cheetahs travel and the mass of their prey. They spend more energy searching for prey than they do in spectacular outbursts of running, which are actually infrequent. “Cheetahs may be Ferraris but most of the time they are driving slowly,” Scantlebury says in a news release.

These resilient wild cats are also victims of kleptoparasitism: Larger carnivores like lions and hyena steal their meals. But they’re well-adapted to being exploited. Even when 25 percent of their meals were stolen, cheetahs only had to hunt for an extra 1.1 hours, upping their daily energy expenditure by just 12 percent.

In a related study, a team led by Terrie Williams from University of California, Santa Cruz, monitored energy expenditure of four wild pumas (Puma concolor) prowling in the Santa Cruz Mountains using Species Movement, Acceleration and Radio Tracking, or SMART, collars. These cryptic cats — also known as cougars, panthers, and mountain lions — employ more patient approaches like sit-and-wait and stalk-and-ambush. That’s because they don’t have the aerobic capacity for sustained, high-energy activity.

The pumas, the team found, spend about 2.3 times more energy locating prey than researchers previously predicted. But the cats balance this expenditure by lying in wait and precisely matching the force of their pounce to the size of their prey. During the actual attack, the cats invest a lot of energy in a short time to overpower their prey, adjusting for full-grown bucks or fawns accordingly.

“They are power animals. They have a slow routine walking speed and use a burst of speed and the force of the pounce to knock down or overpower their prey,” Williams says in a university statement. “What’s really exciting is that we can now say, here’s the cost of being a mountain lion in the wild and what they need in terms of calories to live in this environment.”

Fyre Festival promised to be the Coachella of the Caribbean, yet the disastrous Bahamas event rivaled something out of the dystopian series. Now, the masterminds behind the festival fail, hosts Ja Rule and Billy McFarland, could possibly face federal charges, according to the New York Daily News. Despite Ja Rules apology and assurance that this […]

Also, can we take a brief moment to ask: Ja Rule? ? The last time I heard anything about the rapper, he was singing with Ashanti and I was in the seventh grade, so Id be wary of the facthe spontaneously decided to host an event for $12,000 a pop.

At the beginning of the month, the hosts faced a $100 million federal class-action lawsuit claiming they knew about the dangers of the festival.

Twitter

The festivals lack of adequate food, water, shelter and medical care created a dangerous and panicked situation among attendees suddenly finding themselves stranded on a remote island without basic provisions, the lawsuit claims, according to the Daily News.

Twitter

In case you needed a reminder, the inadequate amount of food that was available had beenprepared in this health violation of a kitchen, so have fun with that imagery.

Twitter

Another lawsuit followed, claiming the hosts were scamming buyers by promising accommodations they knew they couldnt provide.

Third times a charm, and the money-lending company EHL Funding filed a lawsuit claimingthe hosts were late on their loan payments which equated to $3 million.

This is quite the situation, yet despite it all, model Anna Herrintold TMZ, I got really lucky, I had a great time in the Bahamas. I got to leave the main like tent, apocalypse area.

]]>http://personalidtheft.com/awesome/disastrous-fyre-festival-is-under-fbi-investigation-and-were-not-surprised/feed/012 Ways To Fake Confidence, As Told By Someone Who Fakes It All The Timehttp://personalidtheft.com/awesome/12-ways-to-fake-confidence-as-told-by-someone-who-fakes-it-all-the-time/
http://personalidtheft.com/awesome/12-ways-to-fake-confidence-as-told-by-someone-who-fakes-it-all-the-time/#respondSun, 17 Sep 2017 06:53:28 +0000http://elitedaily.com/life/12-ways-to-fake-confidence/1463556/Prevent Identity Theft

Tonight during my drive home, speeding down the speed trap that is San Vicente, I realized I am a writer. I am a writer. Not just a blogger or pubescent poem curator. But a writer. I’ve been published, and now I have a job that pays me to write copy.Holy. Crap. I’ve wanted to be […]

Tonight during my drive home, speeding down the speed trap that is San Vicente, I realized I am a writer. I am a writer. Not just a blogger or pubescent poem curator. But a writer. I’ve been published, and now I have a job that pays me to write copy.Holy. Crap.

I’ve wanted to be a writer my whole life. In high school, however, I could barely make sense of my thoughts, let alone put them on paper to formulate coherent paragraphs. My AP Literature teachers and fellow students always gave me the same feedback: “What? I’m confused.”

In their defense, I was, too. I had noidea what I was trying to say or who I really was. I was so in awe of those who did.But after 26 years of practice, I am a motherf*cking writer. I have figured out my voice.

On top of this accomplishment, I’ve been told by othersthat they admire my confidence.I’m sorry, what?And then I realized, somewhere along the way of faking it, I suppose I actually made it. Or, at least, convinced enough people I had.

I am a fraud. I am not confident.I walk into work thinking, “Good Lord, they’re going to figure out I have no idea what I’m doing.”I talk to my mom and think, “Well, this is it. Mom is finally going to figure out she has a super uncool daughter.”I hang out with my friends and hope today is the day they don’t find out I have no real idea what I want out of this life. Is it babies? A career? A husband? A mini pig? Travel? I have no clue.

But the thing is, if I were to relay this lack of confidence to others, it would only do my career and I a huge disservice. None of us really know what we’re doing. If we do, then we’ve probably plateaued and no longer wake up challenged. My personal trick is to stay busy and consistent, so as to never have a moment to second guess myself.Apparently, this tactic has served me well.

1. Stop caring about what other people think.

This includes parents. Actually, this especially includes parents.Our parents are wise and wonderful, but going after goals separate from what they value doesn’t make you disrespectful. Trying to blend what your parents admire with who you want to be can often result in a muddled version of yourself.

2.Don’t live for compliments.

Receiving them does not accurately validate who you are. The one distributing the positive sentiment is human and imperfect and inconsistent, just like you. Compliments are more often a reflection of the individual giving them than of the one receiving them. I’m just going to leave that there.

3. Fake it ’til you make it.

Figure out your goals, your idols and your path to success. You know what you have to do, now do it. Regardless of what your ego is saying, you can do it.

4. Care about other people.

When you’re stuck in your head and consumed by thoughts of self-loathing, go focus on someone else. Nothing will make you forget your petty problems like volunteering.

Don’t have a lot of time? Simply listening to a friend vent will help you rationalize that we all struggle. Constantly. And the struggle is real, man.Talk to yourself the same way you talk to your beloved, struggling friend.

5. Write downwhatever’s keeping you up at night.

Then get proactive. What are you going to do about your problems? Write down your solutions. Formulate an action plan.

6. Go DO stuff.

Exhaust yourself. Swim, run, bike, hike, go to the movies, eat dinner alone in pubic. Create an exceptional life for yourself that’s not dependent upon others joining you. Find security in yourself and in your solitude.

People are attracted to adventure, and once your friends hear about the cool things you’re doing, they may want to join in. In which case, let them. Be inclusive. It’s part of being a confident leader.

7. Realize your strengths and weaknesses are two parts to the same coin.

You cannot eliminate your weaknesses and still be the cool human your friends and family love.For example, I’m veryimpatient.

In the last month, my friends, mom, boss, Starbuck’s barista, roommate and pastor have all told me I need to be more patient. I let them know it’s a virtue I’m working on. I fake it a bit and sit there quietly pretending I’m not thinking about 100 other things. However, It’s also the reason I accomplish 30 things before most people wake up. I wouldn’t trade my early mornings for the world, so I’ll take the well-intentioned critique as graciously as I can muster.

At some point, I decided that I no longer care. I have goals which trump all else. They trump what my parents think, what my friends think, what my haters think. I do what I believe to be right, regardless. I encourage you to do the same.

8. Stop apologizing.

But also, apologize unabashedly when you really hurt someone.

9. Accept your flaws, not the just double sided ones.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate that I have a large head. Were there to one day be a zombie apocalypse I would survive because I’m a badass. But due to the size of my head, I would also be a huge target. I’m sure that, to a zombie, it looks like there’s a lot of brains in there.

This large head size often feels like a life hindrance (i.e. When we need to take group pictures and I have to get in the back with all the tall people despite being only 5 feet 5 inches tall). But then, I look at pictures of Miranda Kerr and Tyra Banks and feel better.

I accept you, Large Head.

10. Talk to your friends about your insecurities.

Chances are they feel the same.I’ll never forget when I confided in my best friend that I thought my belly button was too large. But lo and behold, she thought the same about hers. We had a moment, and then the next day she came with me to get my bellybutton pierced. Now I look at my oversized, periwinkle belly button with love.

11. Recognize that waiting for perfection is a waste of your youth.

You’re perfect just the way you are, so you might as well keep grinding.

12. Just do you.

Consistently. People will eventually come to expect you to act as you do, and it will no longer be an issue.

More children than ever are becoming victims of identity theft. CBS News business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis speaks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about the five things you need to know to protect yourself, and your child. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT9DoS-1QgQ

More children than ever are becoming victims of identity theft. CBS News business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis speaks to the "CBS This Morning" co-hosts about the five things you need to know to protect yourself, and your child.

To celebrate the happy time that is Television Pilot Season, here are some of my favorite signs and images from my adventures in Auditionland. Enjoy. 1. Parking is always easy! View this image › Tom Lenk This sign is soooooo fancy. Normally, the “No Actor Parking” sign looks like it was scribbled in a fit […]

2. Finding the casting office is a cinch.

So, I’m in front of the store…I go left? No, through the alley, and then on the roof? Is that what you’re telling me? Or do I just keep going around until I end up back where I started?! I’m confused. Sidenote: Once I did arrive at the “waiting room,” it was essentially a cornered off part of the alley, but with chairs, outdoors in sweltering, record breaking 114 degree Burbank heat. And no water to be found. Super classy!

3. Bathrooms are abundant.

There is actually a bathroom right next to the casting office, but actor use is FORBIDDEN! Precious, precious bathroom. So, if you are in need of relief, enjoy a long peaceful walk around the block to a whole other building. This souvenir photocopy of a poorly drawn map from the late ’90s will make it easy. Bathroom maps! What a fun and helpful idea!

4. It’s all about the journey.

This handy Bathroom map/”no-steal” oversized keychain looks like it may have scurvy and/or rabies? Be sure to wash your hands after you touch it. Oh wait, you’ll wash your hands and then still have to carry this beast back with you. So, um, hopefully you’ve had all of your shots? But I applaud the VERY DETAILED directions! Don’t get lost!

5. Bathroom treasure maps!

You’re right. That map’s confusing. Simply follow the pink path I’ve drawn. Exit through the first Vagine, take a left at the second Vagine. Go through the first shark fin, then hook a ricky at the second shark fin you see. It’s a Starbucks-style one stall bathroom, so you’ll probably have to wait in line a while. But, once inside, a flaming VOTIVO brand Red Currant scented candle will make the trip worth while. Upscale candle = bountiful bathroom treasure!

6. Words of encouragement are all around.

OK. I promise not to do trust falls or anything involving my “core,” but what about some sensible Alexander Technique breathing and alignment exercises? Come on, I need to breathe! I do like how the “Thanks!” adds a touch of cheer to this informative sign!

7. Many actors have never used a restroom before, good thing there’s instructions.

You’re right. I’m probably going to ignore that previous sign and practice my “prostitute-death-scene-monologue” as I do my business on the throne (actors are great at multi-tasking). This helpful sign will remind me to fortify myself inside my temporary thespian-lair, and prevent laypersons from interrupting my artistic process.

8. Give in to temptations.

But you didn’t say no banging on the DRUMS. These professional models are sitting on the DRUMS because there are no STOOLS to be seen. Plus, I have such musical talent, you can’t stop me from BANGING! (But seriously, this facility does a lot of model “castings” which for some reason aren’t called “auditions.” Can we get these gorgeous tall people some non-thimble sized seating for their “castings,” PLEASE!?)

10. There’s two sides to every…pen.

“What’s that? You need a pen at your house? Well lucky you there’s a CVS on Ivar and Yucca.” We’ve gone from passive aggressive pens to totally bitchy pens! BONUS! These pen-flag writers have managed to be HILARIOUS, AND communicate an anti-theft message at the same time! They should write their own sitcom with these RIDICULOUS pens!

11. Smile for the camera!

A camera-person will sometimes take a digital photo of actors, that is then printed out with their sizes and representation, and handed to the director during the final callbacks. Mine looked like this. It’s pretty awesome. It’s not creepy/drunk/super-creepy at all.

13. Stay healthy, stay strong!

Ahh, the waiting room piece de resistance. In this day and age of available internet clip art, I applaud the creativity that went into this. Someone tried real hard with their sketch of these…hands? Yes I think they’re hands. Is this sign saying DO NOT SHAKE MY OWN HAND? Or does this office have something against HUMANITY and GOODWILL TOWARDS OTHERS? Hey, I promise not to shake your hand if you’ll let me give you this bottle of hand sanitizer…and a better sign.